Buying guide
How many beads do you need for a parade float?
Fewer than you think — and that surprises most first-time riders. Here's how we size a float load-out at the counter, every Carnival season.
Do float riders still mostly throw beads?
No — and this is the biggest change in Mardi Gras throws. Nowadays most riders throw trinkets, not beads: cups, plush toys, footballs, blow-up balls, light-up novelties. Beads are still the base layer of every load-out — the crowd expects them — but the throws people fight for are the novelty items. Plan your budget around a mix, not a wall of bead cases.
How do you size a float load-out?
Start from your route: how many hours will the float actually roll, and how dense are the crowds? Then split the budget — a base of throw beads for volume, and as much of it as you can afford in trinkets and novelty throws for the moments that matter. Your krewe's veterans know the route's appetite best — and if you tell us the parade and the number of riders, we size krewe orders at the counter every season.
How does case pricing work?
Throws sell by the case, and case pricing is usually the cheapest per-piece way to buy. Every product page on this site shows the case price and the per-piece price side by side, so you can compare a case of throw beads against a case of blow-up balls on equal terms before you spend a dollar.
When should a krewe order throws?
Before the parade-season weekends begin — January inventory is at its fullest, and popular novelty throws sell through as Fat Tuesday approaches. Layaway lets you lock in stock early with a deposit and pay the balance before Mardi Gras.
Where do you pick up a bulk throw order?
Mardi Gras Beads Factory is pickup-only — no shipping. Order online, then collect at either Louisiana store: Bridge City (1145 Highway 90 W, Bridge City, LA 70094, (504) 342-8888) or Houma (1396 W Tunnel Blvd, Houma, LA 70360, (985) 868-5099). For krewe-size orders, call ahead and we'll have it ready.
Planning the rest of the load-out? See throw ideas beyond beads, check strand lengths on the bead sizing chart, and find your ride date on the 2027 parade schedule.